2025 March Director Report High Rez

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Director Report

March 1 - 31, 2025

Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation's mission is to Build Community, Enrich Lives, and Care for the Urban and Natural Environment. This report is a look back and summary of operations supporting our mission and promise of excellent services to the people of Lake Oswego.

Aquatics Team Makes a Splash with Training in Olympia

As we move closer to the ribbon cutting and opening of the Lake Oswego Recreation & Aquatics Center (LORAC), our team is diving into training and teamwork! In early March, Aquatics staff members Kelly, Logan, and Colton traveled to Olympia, Washington, to attend the two-day Aqua-X Workshop hosted by the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA). This hands-on training focused on enhancing skills in aquatic fitness instruction, safety, leadership, and program innovation.

Recreation Deputy Director Jan joined the team for the final session on Sunday, March 2, rounding out the weekend with a strong emphasis on collaboration and team building. The workshop marked an exciting step forward as we gear up to open LORAC and deliver exceptional aquatic programs to the community.

Community Events

FARMERS’ MARKET

Over the past few weeks, significant progress has been made in preparation for the upcoming Farmers’ Market season:

Vendor Selection: All interested vendors have been notified of acceptance, waitlist, or denial New exciting vendors include Barro (Mexican bakery), Café Rowan (lobster & crab rolls), Creole Enterprises, Fermentista, Newks Hot Sauce, Oswego Noodle House, Oyster Growers, Pollos Aguilar, Push Pull Coffee, Saigon Bowl, Sambas Baskets, Santa Terra Brazilian Bakery, Stamper Cheese, and more!

Staffing: New Farmers’ Market assistant manager, Katelyn, has began working She is helping facility and plan for the Farm Fresh Kids Program, obtain insurance and licensing for vendors, and attending the Oregon Farmers Market Association annual conference. Young Entrepreneurs: The new group of young entrepreneurs has been selected for the 2025 season. We have a talented group of high school students in the program, along with businesses including: Dirty Sodas, Baked Goodes, Ceramics, Oil Painting, Jewelry, and Crochet The students had their first workshop with the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts on how to market their products and set up their booth displays. This partnership with the Arts Festival will also give the students an opportunity to vend at the festival!

JUNETEENTH

The team has added Aaron Nigel Smith to the Juneteenth performer lineup Aaron is a Grammy nominated Reggae musician and Billboard #1 recording artist. Aaron is also an educator founding the FUNdamnetals of Music and Movement for youth. He has been added to a great lineup of performers and speakers, Sebe Kan – West African Drum and Dance Troupe as well as keynote speaker, Taylor Stewart, of the Oregon Remembrance Project, and Emcee & DJs - DJ Ambush and Morgan Jones.

4THOFJULY

Parade applications are now live for interested nonprofits, families, and businesses to participate in the parade Interested participants can visit our website for a link to submit application. Millennium Concert Band has been booked for the July 3rd evening concerts kicking of Independence Day celebrations, sponsored by Mary’s Woods.

CONCERTS

Sound engineers for concerts and events have now been booked along with the full concert lineup The concert poster and lineup are now available for the community to check out on our website. Concert vendor applications are now open on www.managemymarket.com for interested food vendors

Luscher Farm

Farming While Black Film Showing:

Community gardens have been hosting a book club during the winter season In February, they read the book Farming While Black and on March 6, the Luscher Team hosted a free showing of the film to the community. The event was hosted at the Lake Theater and brought out 25 community members!

Community Gardens: The Community Garden volunteer opportunities for the season have been published at this link Our gardeners are required to volunteer 4 hours to maintain their plot status, but many of our gardeners go above and beyond!

Adopt-A-Plot: Our adopt-a-plot program is now in full swing! All the garden beds have been assigned, and food growing for Hunger Fighters and Meals on Wheels has begun. Seeds that have been started include onions, lettuces, potatoes, peas, radishes, beets, and other cold crops

ADA at Luscher: This year, we are grateful to have received a donation of an ADA-accessible raised bed to our adopt-a-plot program, generously donated by the Goeken family. We hope to increase accessibility at Luscher and are thrilled about this first step

Programming: We have had a lot of programming already this Spring, including our Spring Break Farm camp, girl scouts’ visits, and birthday parties! We love welcoming the community to Luscher and teaching about organic agriculture

Adult Community Center

HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED IN MARCH!

BIG NEWS!

Our new van arrived! It allows a more reliable ADA lift and can transport two wheelchairs or seat eleven passengers Decals are in work

FACILITY PROJECTS:

Installed gutter guards to help prevent clogs that can lead to leaks This improvement also reduces the need for employees to access the roof or use ladders, enhancing safety

Completed a minor repair in our driveway

PROGRAMS:

Our programs continue to thrive and grow in popularity:

Ping Pong is quickly becoming a community favorite, with twenty-seven participants already signed up.

The Senior Scholar Program, presented in partnership with the Lake Oswego Public Library, drew an impressive crowd of seventy-three attendees for the session titled "The Science of Climate Change"

Our bridge classes and activities remain strong, with over one-hundred participants joining each month.

The St. Patrick’s Day Dinner was a tremendous success rivaling Thanksgiving attendance! Guests enjoyed live music, traditional corned beef and cabbage, and a festive atmosphere

“The music was outstandingly great! The food was great also”

Recreation & Aquatic Management

PRE-LAUNCH & RIBBON CUTTING

Helped develop a comprehensive plan for the pre-launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of LORAC.

Coordinated staffing requirements and scheduled necessary personnel

Helped arrange rental equipment to ensure a seamless event setup.

Established a detailed safety plan to maintain a secure environment during the event

Helped order food and beverages for the event

Helped with purchasing items for swag for the event.

FACILITY INSPECTION & READINESS

Completed the punch list for Areas C and B at LORAC, addressing outstanding tasks and ensuring readiness for operations.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Conducted multiple facility tours for key stakeholders, including the Parks Board and programming staff, to showcase the facility and discuss operational aspects.

OPERATIONS PLAN FINALIZATION

Worked diligently on finalizing the LORAC operations plan which is near completion to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow upon opening.

STAFFING & HIRING

Assisted in the hiring process for two Administrative Specialists to support LORAC’s daily operations

Helped coordinate unforms and ordering

AQUATICS

Significant progress has been made in preparation for the LORAC opening. The pre-launch and ribbon-cutting plan is in place, facility readiness is being finalized, stakeholder engagement is ongoing, and key hires have been made to support operations Next steps include executing the pre-launch event, finalizing additional operational details, and ensuring all systems are in place for a successful opening

AQ Staff attended a 2-day Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA) training in Olympia, WA to learn and brush up on skills for teaching Aquatic Fitness classes.

Over 50 interviews have been conducted this month, and 42 unique applicants are in the process of being hired for Lifeguard, Head Guard, and Swim Instructor positions.

Recreation Management Services

Aquatics in Action!

The month of March opened with a fun AquaX Workshop training with a refresher for the Recreation Deputy Director with a great teambuilding session The session took place at the Olympia, WA YMCA pool and the Aquatics Team members, Kelly, Logan and Colton attended the entire two-day workshop while Jan joined them for last session on Sunday March 2. LO was there!!!

LORAC Special Occasions

Planning has begun in earnest for the LORAC Pre-launch parties and Ribbon Cutting Celebration during the month of March Staff have been working together to create events to welcome the community into the facility as soon as it is approved for occupancy. Dates are soon to be announced.

Speaking of the LORAC, many punch list walks took place in March Staff members and architect teams walked the front lobby area, the offices, the weights & cardio room, the lobby restrooms, the gymnasium, and locker rooms and respite, event rooms and hallway family changing rooms and restrooms were all reviewed and lists of touch ups were given to the contractors

LORAC art sculpture Living Tree II created by artist, Diego Harris, was delivered and is being stored at the Firlane property. Next week, art pads are going to be poured at the LORAC and then in about a month all of the art installations will be scheduled

Goats at Luscher?

Eric, Jan and Emily went to visit the current home of the Belmont Goats. About two months ago, news reported that the goat’s lease was about to expire and the property was scheduled for affordable housing construction project Luscher Farm was thought to be a perfect place for the goats and the offer was extended to the Belmont Goat non-profit group. We are waiting to hear if the goats will stay in Portland or will they become residents of the farm Stay tuned!

Recreation Management Services

ADA Technical Team

- March

is Disability Awareness Month!

More than one in four adults in the US lives with a disability Each March, we take time to raise awareness, recognize the contributions of people with disabilities, and promote accessibility for all. As part of this effort, the City released its annual report. Check out what Parks & Recreation did in 2024 on pages 9-11! The Technical Team from all representatives for various Departments met with the technical team for our quarterly event to discuss current parks and programs that the Department has been initiating to serve people experiencing disabilities.

March Monthly Programming Meeting

This month we met at the MAC in the Willow Room to discuss LORAC updates, summer registration details, mandatory reporting training schedules, and registration software updates. For our monthly learning and staff development topics, Nicolette from the ACC shared information on the software tips and trick for Canva, a publication software application that can help with creating newsletters, fliers, posters, and all sorts of printed media. Nicolette’s focus was on providing informative details on how to create a newsletter format in the new brand

NRPA- Innovation Award for Equity Submission

The NRPA Innovation Awards recognize and honor the latest advancements in the field of parks and recreation Innovation Awards are presented to Park & Recreation agencies for a program, facility or project. Innovation in Equity Award recognizes a park and recreation agency leading an innovative project that improves access to the benefits of local parks and recreation for everyone in the community, no matter the color of their skin, age, income level or ability

Who should apply: Agencies that have found an innovative way to improve access for all to a great park through things such as creative programming, community outreach and more The sky’s the limit!

Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation submitted for the Lake Oswego Young Entrepreneur Program (LOYEP) launched with the 2024 season at the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market held in Millennium Plaza Park This program targets high school age students in grades 912, an underserved and often unseen age group in our community. Students with a passion for entrepreneurship learn about participating in farmers’ markets, developing products, marketing, insurance and licensing, customer service, and they learn financial basics of creating a small business. The program’s goals are to foster the entrepreneurial spirit among a diverse group of young individuals, innovate ideas in a supportive environment, provide a unique platform to showcase creativity, instill confidence in bringing products to market, and cultivate business acumen.

Enrichment

TEENPROGRAMS

The Lounge hosted a spring break kickoff party with games and sweet treats on March 21

The Lounge was closed the week of March 24-28 for spring break. Staff did some spring cleaning to get ready for the rest of the school year!

Staff is advertising summer registration dates and activities!

The Youth Action Council hosted the monthly Live Well Dance with a total of 104 dancers! YAC also gathered at The Teen Lounge to make dog toys and snuffle mats for the shelter dogs at Oregon Dog Rescue in partnership with the LOHS Mental Health Club!

YAC and Jr Camp Counselor applications are OPEN NOW and due in May

The Outside the Art Room Show is in April and applications are coming in from both high school and Jr. high school students. The annual show brings in talented artists for an evening of art on April 11; 6-8 pm

Enrichment

OUTDOORPROGRAMS

Hikes and Rambles is getting into full swing! They are hiking 2-3 times per week. Staff is ready for summer registration! We are offering several adventures and camp experiences

ENRICHMENT

The Summer Camp Guide was released on March 14 to eager parents ready for summer! Registration opens April 5! Indoor Playground hosted the LO Library’s Rover program twice this month; March 6 and March 20, as well as Mr. Hoo on March 13!

FITNESS

Spring Equinox Candlelight Yin class had 18 participants! Excellent feedback and everyone is excited for more of these specialty classes.

Hiring for fitness attendants at the LORAC is in full swing - everyone is enthusiastic to be a part of the new Center! Hired new fitness instructors and personal trainers in preparation for the LORAC! New classes coming soon.

Parks Planning & Projects

CAPITALPROJECTS

Lake Oswego Recreation & Aquatics Center (LORAC) Update

Buildings B and C are complete, and final punch lists have been submitted to TW

Final furniture delivery is scheduled for March 25.

Construction of Building A is ongoing.

Pool heaters are expected to be fully operational this week

Completion of the building envelope is anticipated this week

Stafford Road was repaved March 24–25.

Overlook sidewalk construction is scheduled for March 24–25.

Grading of the pathway around the stormwater pond is to be completed this week

Landscape work is in progress

Parking lot paving and striping are complete.

Bergis Road crossing work is ongoing.

Golf Course Update

Construction of the Maintenance Building is ongoing Paving around the building is complete, and the security fence is currently being installed The project is awaiting delivery of the roll-up doors and completion of the final interior work.

Final work with Milroy has not yet commenced. Staff is coordinating with the contractor to finalize the remaining punch list

The concrete pad for the irrigation booster pump was poured last week. Fittings and the main line connection are scheduled for completion next week.

Remaining final work will be completed once soil conditions allow Oswego Hall

This CIP project has been completed.

Rassekh Park

Fine grading is expected to be complete by the first week of April, followed by underground utility work to connect the playground area and maintenance building to water, sewer, storm, and electricity.

Parks Planning & Projects

CAPITALPROJECTSCONTINUED

Willamette River Greenway Trail (between Roehr and George Rogers Park)

A submittal for Metro Local Share funds for this project is being prepared for Lake Oswego City Council and Metro Council review and approval in early 2025 A design and engineering team led by Lago Hansen is working on refining the design and preparing a land use application following a preapplication conference on March 20. Per the pre-application conference the land use application is expected to be reviewed under ministerial review and will not require a land use hearing However, the project team still plans to hold an informal neighborhood meeting to keep neighbors apprised of the project status. A second meeting with the private property owners will also be scheduled

PLANNING&POLICYPROJECTS

Parks Plan 2040

The final joint Parks Board and CAC meeting was held on March 18, during which the Parks Board made a motion to recommend that Council adopt the Plan with a list of minor changes, and adding some discussion about access to Oswego Lake. Parks Plan 2040 was originally scheduled to go before City Council on April 15, but has been moved to May 20 Following the Council meeting, the project team will review and may ultimately recommend changes to the Parks SDC methodology based on the 15-year CIP included in the plan; this information would be presented as a separate adoption package

Athletic Field Requirements Study Update

As a sub-project to Parks Plan 2040, staff are undertaking an update to the 2019 Athletic Field Requirements Study to affirm the need for additional athletic fields to serve local residents A final draft of the document is expected to be complete and shared with the public in early April.

Luscher Area Master Plan Implementation

Preparation of a land use application package including narrative, traffic impact analysis, local park master plan, and exhibits is underway and is expected to be submitted in early 2025. If approved, the first project staff would undertake is needed safety and accessibility improvements to Luscher Farm’s driveway and parking area, leveraging Metro Local Share dollars as approved by Lake Oswego City Council.

West Waluga Park Neighborhood Connector Trail

Scoping and design for this project, which emerged as a community priority during the Metro Local Share community engagement process, is expected to begin in early 2025 The project will connect neighborhoods north and south of West Waluga Park to each other and to the park’s amenities via a boardwalk trail between Royal Oaks Drive and Oakridge Court or Yorkshire Place

Tennis, Golf & Sports

TENNISCENTER

Program Updates

March has been another strong month at the Lake Oswego Tennis Center as we continued to build momentum and deliver high-quality tennis experiences for our community. The energy around the center remained high, culminating in a successful Spring Break Camp held March 24–28 We welcomed 32 youth participants, and the week was filled with learning, fun, and growth on the court.

The positive feedback we received from families and community members about the friendliness of our staff and the overall customer experience was heartening. We’re proud of the welcoming environment we’ve cultivated and will continue to prioritize excellent service and inclusivity for all who come through our doors.

In addition to camps and instructional programming, USTA Spring Leagues officially kicked off this month Our Adult 18+, Mixed 55, and Adult 65 teams have hit the ground running. Competitive play brings an exciting energy to the center, and it’s always great to see our players engage in league play with enthusiasm and sportsmanship

Spring & Summer Program Development

As we close out March, we’re already looking ahead to a vibrant summer season Preparations for summer registration are well underway, with a focus on refining our curriculum, and ensuring optimal staffing to meet demand. We are excited to offer a wide range of programs to keep players of all ages and abilities engaged throughout the summer months

Staffing Updates

Several of our instructors are currently working toward their teaching certifications, which speaks volumes about their commitment to professional growth and delivering the best coaching possible Their efforts help elevate the quality of our programming and further strengthen our coaching culture here at LOTC.

Our front desk staff continues to be a key piece of our center’s success Their responsiveness, friendliness, and attention to detail have not gone unnoticed by our community and continue to enhance the day-to-day experience for all patrons.

Facility & Operations

Behind the scenes, we continue to prioritize efficiency and clear communication. Our systems for registration, customer service, and program coordination are constantly evolving to better serve our community As we move into April, we’re excited to continue delivering excellent service and growing our tennis community.

Tennis, Golf & Sports

Youth Sports Classes and Camps

We offered two Spring Break options with fullday, half-day and afternoon only options. Spring Break camps had a total of 38 participants between partners Skyhawks Sports Academy and Play Fit Fun. Soccer Shots Spring classes began late March on Sundays and Tuesdays These classes serve preschool kids 2 years to 6 years The long running program, Run4Fun, youth running classes started with a full class of 12 runners.

Adult Sports

Spring Soccer League will commence the first week of April with two divisions, 14 teams, and 199 players. Summer Slow-pitch softball registration opens Tuesday, April 1. The league features may options including Men’s, Coed, and Senior divisions as well as multiple levels of play

Teen Sports

High School City League Basketball 2024-25 concluded with a full day tournament. Over 200 players participated in the tournament! Congratulations to Girls Champion, Hungry Hoopers, Boys 9-10 Champion, Pooh Shiesty Elite, and Boys 11-12 Champion, Team Big Money!

GIRLS 9-12: Hungry Hoopers
BOYS 9-10: Pooh Shiesty Elite
BOYS 11-12: Team Big Money

Tennis, Golf & Sports

GOLF

Representatives of the men’s and ladies’ clubs, and coaches from Lakeridge and Lake Oswego High Schools braved some crazy weather to tour the course on March 13. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of interest and excitement as we get closer to opening.

We selected foreUP as our tee time reservation software, and are now beginning the process of setting up the modules and training with foreUP.

We have been interviewing potential golf course attendants, and hope to be fully staffed very soon!

PICKLEBALL

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our pickleball classes at the newly constructed LORAC facility, beginning in May The new temperature-controlled environment will allow participants to enjoy the courts comfortably year-round. Our dedicated team of five pickleball instructors are eager to begin offering instruction and fostering a vibrant pickleball community

The following pickleball programs will be available:

Intro to Pickleball – Beginner

Pickleball Drill & Play Clinic

Pickleball Family Night

Pickleball Mixer Night

In addition, we will be offering Open Play Pickleball sessions, where players can rotate in on games during the following times:

Sundays: 7:00 am – 10:00 am

Mondays: 6:00 am – 10:00 am

Wednesdays: 6:00 am – 9:00 am

Fridays: 6:00 am – 10:00 am

We are also preparing for the upcoming summer season and look forward to opening registration in April We encourage community members to take advantage of these exciting new offerings and enjoy the enhanced recreational opportunities at LORAC.

Parks

Staffing Updates

The department celebrated Kurt Minges’ retirement after nearly 27 years with the City

New Park Ranger/Natural Area Park Specialist anticipated to start on March 31. Still in process of hiring new Senior Park Specialist & Administrative Specialist.

2 parks staff members have moved to new areas of responsibility; Josh Burgess is now responsible for George Rogers Park and Brandon Bolen is now responsible for Millennium Plaza Park.

Park & Natural Area Projects

Backflows and water fountains turned back on at all parks

Staff across all parks working on pruning projects, blackberry removal, pathway clearance, canopy lift, and equipment maintenance.

Weed pressure increases with the arrival of spring Staff follow IPM practices for removal

Bed of lavender planted behind Stafford Stones.

Foothills shrub bed maintenance underway with pruning, edging, transplanting, weeding, and spent grass rejuvenation pruning

Mowing & edging season begins across all parks.

Adjusted restroom locks and pathway lights with daylight savings time.

Staff spread multiple loads of wood chips and gravel at Hazelia Dog Park

Spring turf maintenance, detaching, overseeding, and fertilizing is in progress in various park areas.

New trees and shrubs have been installed in various park areas, including two new trees at the George Rogers Park playground.

A path was installed at the Golf Course for the transition from number one green, to number two tee

All the greens were over-seeded, as well as fertilized. The driving range was also fertilized.

Rewelding of soccer goals at the Westlake athletic field for safety performance

East Waluga and Hazelia synthetic fields have been de-compacted. This involves removing debris and re-lifting turf fibers to help restore the turf’s resilience, enhancing safety and playability.

East Waluga, George Rogers, and Westlake’s Athletic Fields -top dressed with sand or rubber for increased playability

The irrigation mainline at George Rogers Park was extended and 3 valves were moved to the new irrigation water line.

Staff Training & Safety

All staff safety meeting on distracted driving Staff attended an EAB management workshop

Communication & Sponsorship

LORAC Launch and Grand Opening

Launch party invitations were sent through ActiveNet to pre-sale members

Distributed invitations and save-the-dates to VIPs, LOSD representatives, and project partners.

Coordinating event speakers, timing, and program flow

Securing rental equipment for the event

Ordered branded swag for attendees. Developing guided tour plans for the new facility.

Coordinating walkthroughs with other City departments for emergency preparedness and response planning.

Collaborating with project partners, including SEA and the Energy Trust of Oregon, on dayof-event engagement and support

Working on support and promotional materials for ribbon cutting.

Sponsorships

Worked on contracts and continued collaborated with sponsors and prospects to fill concert dates and other event opportunities

Website Management

The Parks & Recreation website was actively updated with essential information, including: Information on upcoming events and project updates. Collaboration with IT and Cyd continued for the LORAC group page, which centralizes all related information. The planned launch date has been adjusted to April This includes developing Golf, Aquatics, and Rental pages

Spring/Summer Activity Guide

Guide was printed and sent to homes in late March Coordinated ads for sponsors

Uniform Collaboration

Finalized orders for parts of the LORAC team and created other orders that will be delivered in April.

Millennium Park Signage

Following the recent ruling on Oswego Lake access, new signage was developed and installed in the lower Millennium area The signage includes updated information from the Oregon State Marine Board to ensure clarity and compliance with state regulations.

Parks Board

Attended the Parks Board meeting on March 20. Took notes and participated in discussions

Communication & Messaging

Ongoing content development for Hello LO and LODown newsletters.

Worked with CMO office on Oswego Lake information and messaging

Attended the monthly Communications team meeting.

Community Inquiries

Handled large volumes of inquiries related to LORAC memberships, golf programs, and facility amenities demonstrating strong community interest and engagement.

Integrated into the Citizen Support Center messaging system through the City Manager’s Office

Banner Program Update

Coordinated with FastSigns to remove holiday banners and install new seasonal banners in parks, along A Avenue, and on Boones Ferry Road.

Created installation maps and organized banner sets to streamline the process

Currently developing designs for summerthemed and general-use banners.

Social Media

In March, social media efforts focused on key updates, public awareness, and community engagement. Highlights included: Stafford Road posts Parks Plan 2040 survey

Stewardship opportunities and gearing up for Arbor Month

Luscher Farm walkabout

Outside the Art Room call for artists and event

Job recruitment

Tumbling & Acrobatics

Ping Pong at the ACC

Stafford Road Communication

Developed a social media and communications plan to inform the community, businesses, and residents along Stafford Road

Emailed neighborhood associations with key details and updates

Worked with LOSD to get the word out. Designed and distributed door hangers to residences in the affected area.

Created and shared a flyer specifically for local businesses to ensure outreach and awareness

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2025 March Director Report High Rez by LOParksRec - Issuu